Electrical connector portion suitable for fixing in floating manner on a support member

Abstract

An electrical connector portion fixable in a floating manner to a support (2) and including a body (1) that is polygonal in cross-section, with links (5, 13, 20) imparting six degrees of freedom to the body (1) relative to the support, and with a resilient return spring (12, 19, 22) for returning the body (1) to an equilibrium position relative to each degree of freedom. A first link arrangement (5) between the body (1) and the support (2) comprises a first link structure (6, 7) in rotation conferring degree of freedom in rotation about an axis (Y) perpendicular one to the coupling direction, and link structure (9, 10, 11) in translation conferring one degree of freedom in translation along an axis (Z) parallel to the coupling direction.

We claim: 
     
       1. An electrical connector portion adapted to be floatingly attached to a support member (2), said connector portion comprising body means including a body (1) of polygonal cross-section suitable for coupling and decoupling with a body of a complementary connector portion secured to another support member when the two support members are moved towards and away from each other along a direction approximately parallel to a coupling direction (F) of the two connector portions, said connector portion further comprising, interposed between said body means and support means including said support member (2), link means (5, 13, 20) adapted to impart six degrees of freedom to said body (1) of said connector portion, namely, three degrees of freedom in translation along three directions (X, Y, Z) that are substantially mutually orthogonal, one of said directions (Z) coinciding substantially with said coupling direction (F), and three degrees of freedom in rotation (α, β, Γ) about said three directions (X, Y, Z), resilient return means (12, 19, 22) being associated with said link means to return said body (1) of said connector portion to an equilibrium position for each degree of freedom; (a) a first one of said link means connecting said body means of said connector portion and said support means to enable said body mean to rotate about an axis (Y) which is substantially perpendicular to said coupling direction, and to enable said body means to move in translation relative to said support means along a direction (Z) which is substantially parallel to said coupling direction; and,   (b) a first one of said resilient return means returning said body means to an equilibrium position relative to said support means in which it is spaced apart from said support means, said resilient return means being rated so as to come into play when said body means is subjected to a force in said coupling direction which is greater than a coupling force between said connector portion and said complementary connector portion.   
     
     
       2. A connector portion according to claim 1, comprising at least one single intermediate link piece (6) which is rotatably connected to the body means of the connector portion by at least one pivot (7) substantially transverse to the coupling direction and which is slidably connected via guide means relative to the support means. 
     
     
       3. A connector portion according to claim 2, wherein the guide and link means of the intermediate piece (6) comprise a passage (9) defined relative to the support means and in which the intermediate piece (6) is freely engaged, and a system comprising a projecting finger (10) and an elongate slot (11) extending approximately in the coupling direction, which system is interposed between the intermediate piece and the support means. 
     
     
       4. A connector portion according to claim 1, comprising at least one curved spring blade (12) having a central region bearing against said at least one pivot (7) providing rotary linkage between said at least one intermediate piece (6) and the body of the connector portion, and having two ends bearing against the support means. 
     
     
       5. A connector portion according to claim 1, wherein said body means include an intermediate platform (3) associated with said body (1) of the connector portion, said platform extending substantially perpendicularly to the coupling direction, the body (1) of the connector portion being fixed to said platform by a second one of said link means (13) having three degrees of freedom, namely, one degree of freedom in rotation (Γ) about an axis (Z) parallel to the coupling direction, and two degrees of freedom in translation along two axes (X,Y) that are perpendicular to each other and to the coupling direction; and wherein the above-mentioned first one of said line means (5) co-operate with said intermediate platform (3) connected to the body of the connector portion. 
     
     
       6. A connector portion according to claim 5, wherein said second one of said link means comprise at least one second pivot (18) substantially parallel to the coupling direction and secured selectively to one of the platform (3) and the body (1) of the connector portion, and further comprising a second one of said resilient return means (19) deformable transversely to the coupling direction and interposed between said pivot and selectively the connector portion and the platform. 
     
     
       7. A connector portion according to claim 6, wherein the second resiliently deformable means comprise at least one spiral spring (19). 
     
     
       8. A connector portion according to claim 1, wherein said support means include an intermediate cradle (4) associated with the support member (2), said cradle extending approximately perpendicularly to the coupling direction, said cradle being fixed to the support member via a third one of said link means (20) having one degree of freedom in rotation (α) about an axis (X) substantially perpendicular to the coupling direction and to the axis of said first one of said link means (5) which co-operate with said cradle (4) connected to the support member. 
     
     
       9. A connector portion according to claim 8, wherein said third one of said link means (20) comprise at least a third pivot (21) approximately perpendicular to the coupling direction and to the first pivot, and secured selectively to one of said cradle (4) and said support member (2), a third one of said resilient return means (22) being interposed between the cradle and the support member to return said cradle to an equilibrium position relative to the support member. 
     
     
       10. A connector portion according to claim 2, wherein the first, second, and third link means are provided in duplicate and are situated respectively on opposite sides of the body of the connector portion.